Charleston City Council Regular Meeting – September 15, 2025
Charleston City Council Regular Meeting – September 15, 2025
The Charleston City Council met in regular session on Monday, September 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin presided and City Clerk Miles C. Cary II conducted the roll. Twenty-five members were present, constituting a quorum; the closing roll call recorded Councilmembers Burka and King as absent. The meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m., and the next regular meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
Call to Order, Invocation, and Pledge
- Councilmember Overstreet delivered the invocation, and Councilmember Rubio led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Speakers and Claims
- Tara Raymo read a passage from the Bible during the public speaker portion.
- The City Clerk read five claims against the city, which were referred to the City Solicitor: American Electric Power (property damage); Antonio Marcus Constantino, Charles L. Frostick, Jaime Richmond, and Kimerly Russell (vehicle damage).
Proclamations
- Mayor Goodwin proclaimed September 2025 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Charleston, citing that more than 15,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year. The proclamation honored Maddox "Mad Dog" Potter, and members of the Potter family, including Lennox and Brooks, accepted the proclamation.
Appointments and Communications
- Councilmember Ceperley moved, and Councilmember Hoover seconded, reappointment of Kent George to the City Center Business Improvement District Board for a term expiring October 4, 2030. The appointment was confirmed unanimously.
- Councilmember Ceperley moved, and Councilmember Hoover seconded, reappointment of Lois Christian, Lisa Dobbins, Barbara Rose, and Susan Sumont and appointment of Mimi Dinsmore to the Municipal Beautification Commission, with terms expiring September 19, 2028. The appointments were confirmed unanimously.
Finance Committee Resolutions
- Resolution No. 25-085: Authorized purchase of three new Ford Ranger crew cab pickup trucks from Stephens Auto Center for $104,667.00 under a competitively sourced statewide contract. Two trucks are for Public Grounds and one is for Parking, as budgeted FY 2026 replacements. Finance Committee Chair Jenkins recommended approval; Councilmember Ceperley seconded. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution No. 25-086: Authorized a $2,493,986.00 contract with Buckeye Construction and Restoration for repairs to the six City-owned parking garages, awarded through competitive bidding. Jenkins stated this is Year 1 of a 5-Year phased repair plan; major work includes replacing stairwells in the garages adjacent to the Coliseum and Convention Center, plus an accepted alternate for sealant work. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution No. 25-087: Authorized settlement of a disputed claim by Steven Lee for $150,000.00, claim number WV1542025026403, related to an alleged use of excessive force by a Charleston Police Department K9 unit during an arrest, as recommended by the City Solicitor. Jenkins explained the claim arose from a citizen injured by a police dog when proper warning was not issued. The minutes describe the vote as "in the majority in the affirmative" rather than unanimous.
- Resolution No. 25-088: Approved Amendment No. 2 to the FY 2025-2026 General Fund Budget, rolling over prior-year purchases not completed and correcting $35,000.00 from unassigned funds to the Fire Department equipment account. A roll call was taken: 25 yeas, 0 nays, with Burka and King absent. Adopted.
- Resolution No. 25-089: Authorized a $399,195.00 contract with SQP Construction Group, Inc. for repairs and improvements to City sidewalks and ADA ramps, competitively bid. City Manager Ben Mishoe confirmed funding comes from CDBG. At Councilmember Solomon’s request, a City staff member read the list of work locations, including intersections and alley segments across the city. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution No. 25-090: Authorized a $4,200,000.00 contract with Persinger & Associates for renovations and additions to Charleston Fire Department fire stations. Persinger was the apparent low bidder at $4,387,000.00; under W.Va. Code §5-22-4 the City negotiated changes reducing the price by $187,000.00. In discussion, Councilmember Faegre noted a discrepancy in the resolution language about whether five or six stations were included; the final clarification was that six of eight firehouses are being worked on, with five in this package. Fire Stations 6 and 7 are not included; Councilmember Cook confirmed Station 6 will be completely replaced, and Station 3 is excluded because only minimal work is needed. Adopted unanimously.
Reports of Officers
- The City of Charleston Payroll Variance Analysis for July and August 2025 was received and filed.
Remarks by Members
- Mayor Goodwin reported that the Opioid Committee and its subcommittees have been meeting; 33 applications were reviewed in a Friday conference call, with the United Way supporting the process.
- Mayor Goodwin announced receipt of an unclaimed property check from the State Treasurer in the amount of $27,158.35, intended for Kanawha City basketball court upgrades in coordination with Councilmembers Robinson, King, and Burka, subject to future council approval.
- Mayor Goodwin announced upcoming events: Regatta economic impact press conference on Thursday at 1:00 p.m.; a monument dedication at Spring Hill Cemetery on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.; the Christmas parade on December 11; and a new Patch Whiskey mural.
- Councilmember Gardner recognized Councilmember Burton for being inducted into the George Washington High School Hall of Fame.
- Councilmember Solomon reported that Save a Life Day, which began in Charleston/Kanawha County and Putnam County in 2020 as a free naloxone distribution day, is now nationwide; last year 35 states distributed 84,000 naloxone doses in one day, and all 50 states are expected to participate on September 25.
- Councilmember Pharr reported that Be Our Neighbor Day was a success, with many children and families attending.
- Councilmember Cook provided a public service announcement that COVID-19 vaccines do not require a prescription for people under 65.
Key Outcomes
- Confirmed reappointments to the City Center Business Improvement District Board and the Municipal Beautification Commission.
- Adopted Resolution Nos. 25-085 through 25-090, including the $150,000 K9 claim settlement, the FY 2025-2026 budget amendment, and contracts for trucks, parking garage repairs, sidewalk/ADA ramp improvements, and fire station renovations.
- Received and filed the July/August 2025 Payroll Variance Analysis.
- Adjourned at 7:43 p.m. until the next regular meeting on October 6, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Council will please come to order. Members will please rise while Councilmember Overstreet leads us in prayer this evening. Let's bow our heads. Heavenly Father, we just thank you for allowing us to come together again to be about the business of our wonderful city. We all know that today is not promised to us, Heavenly Father. And even as uh City Council, we may not always agree, but we ask that during these times, Heavenly Father, that you help us to work together to bring about changes in our city in unity, Heavenly Father. We pray, Heavenly Father, for uh this past weekend that's been filled with tragedy. We we reminded that we should always pray, Father God, for for for everyone who's had to go through such things, Heavenly Father. We pray for compassion and sympathy and empathy, not only for those who are famous or in power, but even the families of homeless people or or the immigrants or or whomever, Father God, that we would put ourselves in their places, Heavenly Father, and know that they are they are fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters, Father God, even though we may have disagreements or whatever. We pray for unity of our city, that maybe we can be the first Heavenly Father to express it. Uh, we pray for empathy, we pray for peace. We pray, Father God, that even though we things may not be uh how we we may not be agreeable with each other, Heavenly Father, but that we always love one another, Heavenly Father, and that our tongue and our words can build up and encourage and edify and not tear down, Heavenly Father, because I know that every one of us is gonna meet our uh death one time, then we're going to be judged. So we just pray for that, and we pray for our city, we pray for each and every um worker of our city, we pray for their families, Heavenly Father, and we thank you, Heavenly Father, for this council. Thank you for our mayor, and Heavenly Father, and how we work so well together. I just want to thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you, Councilmember Overstreet. Councilwoman Rubio, would you please lead us in the pledge? And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Tara, please come to the microphone. Thank you, Tara. Well, the clerk coming back to a seat, I'll just go ahead and say, Tara and I, thank goodness there wasn't a traffic cop anywhere near us because Tara and I stopped traffic last week. We were trying to corral a little puppy that was uh frolicking up and down the road and come to find out today. We both are trying to stop him and staring at him, and he was so super cute. And I found out today you adopted him. So thank you for that. He is very cute. He's very spunky, very, very spunky. Actually, he adopted you, you didn't adopt him. He wasn't leaving your yard, and you know it. Yep. The clerk will now please read the claims against the city. A claim of American Electric Power, Dunbar, West Virginia alleges damage to property. A claim of Antonio Constantino, South Charleston, West Virginia alleges damage to vehicle. A claim of Charles Frostic, Charleston, West Virginia alleges damage to vehicle, a claim of Jamie Richmond, South Charleston, West Virginia alleges damage to vehicle. A claim of Kimberley Russell, Charleston, West Virginia alleges damage to vehicle. Please refer to the city solicitor and the clerk will now please read the proclamation. Proclamation, whereas every year, more than fifteen thousand children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer, a challenge that families in West Virginia know all too well and bravely face together. And whereas September is recognized as childhood cancer awareness month, a time to go gold, and stand together to lift up children and families, encourage advocacy, and promote early detection, quality, care, and survivorship resources. And whereas organizations like the Maddox Potter Foundation provide vital support and raise awareness in our communities, while also reminding us of the importance of advocacy for increased research funding and survivor services so that more children are not only survivors but thrive, leading fully and healthy lives. And whereas Maddox Potter's passion for golf, his bright spirit, and the love he inspired throughout Kenal Valley and beyond, continue to encourage others to act, to give, and to rally Ford progress in the fight against childhood cancer. And now, therefore, I, Amy Schuler Goodwin, mayor of the city of Charleston, do hereby recognize September 2025 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Charleston, West Virginia, and call on our community to honor the example of Maddox Mad Dog Potters, approaching life with courage and sharing hope with others. And witness whereof I've sent my hand and cause the seal of the executive department to be affixed this 15th day of September 2025. Here to accept this proclamation, members of the Potter family, including Lennox and Brooks, who both have very mean, good-looking golf swings. Boys, please come up and accept this proclamation on behalf of all of us. We all have records on our desk, but tell them about it. Yes, and tomorrow is go bowl for childhood answer awareness. So the whole state is on a line up, just like you did on January 24th for Madden's Day. Everybody were rolling now, they would just like to the next beautiful point. And we will bear our goal today and tomorrow.
openpublica.com